If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
MARCH 1
Welcome to March. If you have kept up, keep it going. Remember, it is
more important to read your Bible than to read these notes. If you have a
friend or two who will do this with you, it will help you to have the
accountability. Then on the 17th you can meet together and celebrate your
effort by eating something with corned beef and drinking some appropriate
beverage. (For example, a McLeprechaun and a Shamrock Shake?)
Leviticus 24:1-25:46
Leviticus 24
Vs. 1-9 Along with the feasts and holy days, there were these two
things mentioned. Although the emphasis has been on the yearly feasts, the
people would remember too that each day, there were provisions being made for
them that should lead to celebration.
I guess you don't have to be Einstein to figure out the symbolic nature
of these. The light symbolized God's leading of the people and the twelve loaves symbolized His provision
for the people. The people knew there were two things the Lord always provided
for them. The one thing not mentioned here that also stood in the Holy Place
was the altar of incense. This was probably to signify the prayers of the
people constantly coming before God in gratitude for His provision symbolized
on the other tables by the light and loaves.
Notice that the people had to provide the oil for the lamps. I wonder
where they got this oil in the wilderness. Maybe olive trees grow wildly, or
maybe they bought it from merchant caravans. At this point they had been in the
wilderness about a year, so I don't think they would have had a lot left over
from Egypt. Since the people had to provide the oil, it might signify that they
were grateful for the light that God gave them.
For us as disciples we don't have to bring olive oil or flour to the
church for weekly symbolic ceremonies. God provides us with light and our daily
provision and care. To receive God's light, all we have to do is come to the Lord
and sit with Him and His Word. Learning from Jesus, at His feet in His Word is the
simplest definition of a disciple. But therein lies the rub. Try to convince
the average believer that they should sit for 20 minutes a day reading the Word
and for 20 minutes praying and they will nod. Some may give a grunt of assent.
But most will not do it. If you make this a requirement for leaders, you might
have a mutiny or angry leaders. Most Christians are too busy to come to the
light and sit quietly before the Lord. That cannot be the heart of a disciple.
We don't bring a cow or lamb or oil. We bring ourselves, renounce everything
and follow our Lord every day in the harvest. We all have busy lives, but how
can we be too busy to spend time with the Lord? Read Luke 14:25-35.
Vs. 10-23 It seems to me that as Moses was writing this, on that day,
this situation arose. It would be a case in point of obeying the commandments.
I don't think this guy said anything more than something you'd hear on
TV or expect someone to say in a fight with emotions running high. God is a
"good old boy" and just sort of shakes His head when we do this,
right? Wrong. Here, God is stressing the point of His holiness among the
people. They needed to remember (as we do) that He is always close and that He
always hears this stuff.
Some interesting things here:
First, the man's father was an Egyptian. This might have had something
to do with the lack of respect or the cause of the fight. Later we'll hear that
the Egyptians who traveled with Israel created some discontent and rebellion
that some people in Israel had to be punished for.
Second, the tribe of Dan is mentioned. In Judges, Dan will be the first
tribe to fall into total idolatry. Probably for that reason, Dan is not listed
among the tribes in the book of Revelation that compose the 144,000. This guy
is the first person put to death for violating one of the Ten Commandments. And
he is of the tribe of Dan. L
Third, the repetition of for I am
the Lord your God.
Finally, the people did as the Lord commanded Moses. Obedience, for
now.
Leviticus 25:1-46
Actually this will all flow into tomorrow's reading. This is an awesome
chapter, in that what is commanded here seems never, ever, to have been followed
in the land, not once. There is no mention that this was ever obeyed and the
length of the future Babylonian exile is determined by its neglect (1 Chron.
36:21). Apparently no king did it, not even David or Josiah. It seems that the
amount of faith and dependence on God that this required was more than anyone
could humanly muster up. As disciples, I wonder what we might be neglecting?
If we were doing a Bible study, I'd ask you to break this chapter into
two main divisions and then each division into two parts. That's just an
exercise to help people see the flow of a chapter (and keep them awake).
The main division is after v. 17. Verses 1-17 give a general
description of the Sabbath year and the year of jubilee, and vs. 18-55 give
specifics as to how to deal with various situations that might arise.
Vs. 1-7 and 18-22 have to do with the Sabbatical year. Everything else
has to do with the year of jubilee.
I won't make a lot of comments here. Your own observations will be
better than anything I can say. Reading the verses on the Sabbatical year and
particularly 18-22, you understand that if the people couldn't trust God for
this, they would never trust Him for the year of jubilee.
Vs. 1-7 This is the Sabbath year. Verse 2 says this is the land that
God gave them. In all of this talk about the land, notice to whom the land
really belonged. Notice in v. 5 that no one could harvest or sell the grain or
fruit. Everyone was free to go into any field and take what they needed for
that day. If you understand this, it was a year off from field work with
complete dependence and provision from God. To think that the entire nation was
to do this is incredible. Who needs four weeks of vacation when every seven
years you get a year off? Wow!
Vs. 8-12 This 50th year was the year of jubilee. It began on the Day of
Atonement in the 49th year, which was also a Sabbatical year. This means that
the 50th year was also a Sabbatical year; that is, they were given two years in
a row in which they were not to work their fields. This time off from work was
one reason it was called the year of jubilee. They were supposed to celebrate.
Vs. 13-17 If you understand this, the land in Israel never changed
possession, but if a person needed to they could lease the land. This would
always be measured from one year of jubilee to the other, estimating how many
harvests would come until the land was given back.
Vs. 18-22 This information was given for the people to trust God for
every Sabbatical year. He would provide enough in the sixth year to get them to
the ninth year. If Israel had obeyed the Lord, they would have been the talk of
all the nations. This would mean that when the Sabbatical year was followed by
a year of jubilee, God would provide even more and the people would have to
trust even more.
Vs. 23-34 These
were regulations regarding the leasing of land with respect to the year of
jubilee when it all had to be returned. You'll find one interesting exception
in this. Notice how v. 23 sets the tone for these instructions. This reminds me
of something I was reading this morning that Jesus taught His disciples in Luke
16:12, And if you have not been faithful
in that which is another's,
who will give you that which is your own?
Vs. 35-43 These regulations have to do with the poor people in Israel.
They could become "indentured" servants until the year of jubilee.
Vs. 44-46 These slaves were real slaves. Those slaves who would belong
to Israel were treated with a respect and with rights that no other nation gave
their slaves. These rules were for Israel as a nation ruled by God. Eventually,
Paul and the Spirit would say that people should not become slaves, thereby
beginning the end of slavery.
In thinking of the Sabbatical year and the year of jubilee, any of us
would have been deeply challenged to do what these people were asked to do.
Thankfully, God no longer requires this. But, true obedience is always costly
and radical. Being a follower of Christ in this harvest means a dependence on
God and a willingness to give things up. Jesus is our sacrificial example.
Because we hold on to things and see our security as coming from credit cards,
jobs and people, I have a feeling that we're missing very obvious things
related to the Great Commission and the harvest. Therefore, not as many
prisoners and slaves of sin get set free.
Mark 10:13-31
Vs. 13-16 Poor disciples. Where are all these kids coming from? This
tells me that when Jesus taught or healed, the disciples did crowd control. The
disciples had all these deeply needy people in lines like kids waiting to see
Santa, and then these moms showed up. This "kid" situation seemed low
priority to them. The kids weren't sick; they were just kids. They learned a
lesson about needs and the value of simple wide-eyed faith and trust.
V. 15 is a very important verse, and we're about to see an example of
the danger mentioned here.
Vs. 17-22 This is the rich young ruler.
Again, what great training for the disciples. You could have a class on
"the dangers of riches and idolatry" and never get the point across
like here. Here the Father is showing the disciples what happens when someone
loses their childlike faith.
V. 20 Notice that this guy was serious and had lived a good life
according to the requirements of the law.
V. 21 Somehow in this, Jesus actually communicated love so that Peter
(Mark's source) noticed this. Jesus put His finger on this man's real god.
Vs. 23-31 Notice now that Jesus teaches the disciples from this
incident that the Father arranged.
V. 24 Notice that the disciples fully understood Jesus and realized
that salvation would be next to impossible if v. 23 were true. Notice that
Jesus calls them children. Look back
up to vs. 13-16. Very interesting.
V. 25 This is a sewing or surgical needle.
Vs. 26-27 Now if these verses are a true picture of the reality, then
"stuff" really is a problem. Money is bigger than we think. Being
saved and being disciples doesn't shield us from this temptation and influence
any more than being a Christian keeps us from getting a cold. Our
"treasure in heaven" determines how we use our time and how we focus
our lives. It determines our faith. Are we so secure with our holdings in
heaven, that we could pour out and "waste" our lives on earth for
Christ, following Him in the harvest? The "acceptable" answer is
"yes," but not many are doing it. Yeah, I feel bad, too; but that's
why we're encouraging one another to go in the right direction together as
disciples.
Vs. 28-31 Peter and the others had given up their careers to follow
Jesus. This is why they were "children." In Jesus saying what He says
here, He is speaking to all of us. We follow for other reasons, ready to spend
our lives in the harvest. We don't follow to gain. We gained the minute we
believed. Now we follow out of love and obedience. But, there is blessing. Note
that Mark is the one who mentions persecutions. Jesus warns them that the first will be last, etc., suggesting
they may not always understand God's standard of fairness. We are simply to
love and trust our Lord like children as we follow, making disciples, who make
disciples. Do you see the connection back to verses Mark 10:13-16? Simple,
childlike faith trusts and follows.
Psalm 44:9-26
The sons of Korah were appointed by David to lead singing in the
tabernacle in Jerusalem, but whenever a godly king arose, he always gathered
the descendants of Korah and put them in charge of the worship of the temple.
The only historical situation I can think of that would fit with the lament
here is during the days of Hezekiah. At that time Assyria was taking all the
surrounding nations captive, on their way to becoming a world power. As Assyria
captured the northern kingdom of Israel and swept into Judea, taking villages
captive and taking the people away as slaves, Assyria thought that God had
turned His back on His people. It was through this hardship that godliness was
shaped and strengthened in Judea and especially in Jerusalem where all the
people ran for protection. The people were following a godly king, yet Judea
was being defeated by their enemies.
Just like Job, God allowed these people to endure hardship to teach
them something and to warn them. The prophets Hosea and Isaiah were used by God
to convey this warning and Hezekiah and the people listened to the Lord.
Vs. 9-16 As we will soon be reading in Deuteronomy, the mark of God's
blessing was that Israel would never have to turn their backs on their enemies
and that they would be held in honor by their neighbors. Only sin would cause
God to let Israel be humiliated. "Falling away" had been the history
of Israel leading up to the historical events that gave birth to this psalm.
Vs. 17-22 Verse 17 was true in that a revival of faith was going on
during the reign of King Hezekiah, but it was after years of drifting from God.
The spirituality of the nation was paper thin and would be torn to shreds by
Hezekiah's son, Manasseh.
V. 22 Paul quotes this verse in Romans 8 and ends it, No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us. In the context of Romans 8, we don't
know why God does what He does, but we do know that God produces good as He uses those who love Him, who are
called according to His purpose. For good
might be that we don't understand His purpose and die, but we trust that God
knew what He was doing and used our death for His good plan.
Vs. 23-26 The Spirit is inspiring the writer to cry out to God. This is
God's will for us when we don't understand. It is this holding to our faith and
hope and looking to God that defeats the enemy. It is a power the enemy cannot
understand or resist. Many Christians in many times and many countries have
endured deep oppression and injustice and cried out to God. Their only victory
was clinging to Christ and they won.
And they have conquered him by
the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Rev. 12:11)
Proverbs 10:20-21
Just for fun, try to put these two Proverbs together: 20a and 21a / 20b
and 21b.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing
deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the
growth of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4
disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to
reach out and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most
universal and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here,
or what we are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us, as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His
harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be
willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their
growth as disciples, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome
to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own
observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition
or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any
point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as
I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm doing
this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will
keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. Remember,
the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement, a disciple’s
commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep following our
Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make
disciples. Being in the Word every day,
sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential essence of
being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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